02/14/2015 21:52Bailey Tavares score 2 each in Isles' win over Blue Jackets
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) Josh Bailey scored two goals in the first period, John Tavares had two goals and two assists, and the New York Islanders fought off two rallies by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 6-3 victory on Saturday night.

02/14/2015 21:48Bailey Tavares score 2 each in Isles' win over Blue Jackets
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) Josh Bailey scored two goals in the first period, John Tavares had two goals and two assists, and the New York Islanders fought off two rallies by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 6-3 victory on Saturday night.

02/14/2015 21:45Bailey Tavares score 2 each in Isles' win over Blue Jackets
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) Josh Bailey scored two goals in the first period, John Tavares had two goals and two assists, and the New York Islanders fought off two rallies by the Columbus Blue Jackets in a 6-3 victory on Saturday night.

It's easy to make fun of general manager Garth Snow for his inability to strengthen the Islanders defense through free agency, but top-tier defenders generally have their pick of where they want to play - and that has not been Long Island for decades. Snow has to find players that other teams gave up on, which leads us to Thomas Hickey. He is a former first round pick of the Kings who never panned out. On most teams he would be a bottom-pair defenseman or someone who would sit in the press box most nights; with the Isles he is expected to play big-time minutes. He is certainly miscast in that role, but until the younger prospects are ready to take on that job, he will remain a top-four guy. (Updated 8/13/14)